Thread: Turfco XT5 vs LS Hydro Aerator

David - where will you be in MN?
I am hoping Rochester area. I would love to try yours out and pull some plugs.
If only in the Twin Cities area, I may have trouble getting up there with spring business kicking in for me.

Ok now that XT5's have been shipped and delivered...chime in with your input.

Especially if you own both units.

My input wouldn't be fair until I've used it for at least one season. Just taking it out of the box, firing up the engine and running it up and down the yard once or twice won't give much constructive input. Will be more than happy to do so around the end of October.

Ground speed: TURFCO & Plugr were both winners, as their ground speed were identical. The LS unit was much slower, and quite disappointing.

Plug depth & number of plugs: The 855 Plugr was the winner. XT5 was 2nd*. LS was 3rd.

Ease of use: XT5 was #1. Much easier to turn. Much smoother & quieter. Very easy to raise the tines. LS was #2. Plugr was #3.

*Note: The LS aerator had all four weights. The TURFCO XT5 had 2 weights and was only set in the "shallow plug" position (not the deep plug setting).

Easiest to service: XT5 -- extremely easy to get to whatever you want.

The above are the opinions of those who demoed these units today. I personally noticed the most interest in the XT5.

I also have videos that were taken today that show the stark differences between the XT5 & the LS aerator. I can forward them via email, but that's all I know how to do right now, cuz I don't know how to post the videos on lawnsite.com.

Which of the 3 would work for me? It would be the XT5 due to ease of use, number of plugs, and depth of plugs.

Regarding the LS with caster wheels? The videos look very cool, but nobody around here has first-hand experience with it. So far, no midwest Toro dealers have plans to sell them. (maybe later)

The Plugr 855 was awesome, but it's a different class of aerator. (kinda like the LA 28). Very nice unit, nice company. Keep in mind that I have never used the 855. The new 855 also eliminated moving parts to make it more bullet proof. I only saw it operated by their rep today (nice guy) So I cannot say good or bad about it. Yet it pulled deeper & more plugs than the LS & TURFCO hydro aerators. My only concern would be operator fatigue, but don't quote me on this.

Ground speed: TURFCO & Plugr were both winners, as their ground speed were identical. The LS unit was much slower, and quite disappointing.

Plug depth & number of plugs: The 855 Plugr was the winner. XT5 was 2nd*. LS was 3rd.

Ease of use: XT5 was #1. Much easier to turn. Much smoother & quieter. Very easy to raise the tines. LS was #2. Plugr was #3.

*Note: The LS aerator had all four weights. The TURFCO XT5 had 2 weights and was only set in the "shallow plug" position (not the deep plug setting).

Easiest to service: XT5 -- extremely easy to get to whatever you want.

The above are the opinions of those who demoed these units today. I personally noticed the most interest in the XT5.

I also have videos that were taken today that show the stark differences between the XT5 & the LS aerator. I can forward them via email, but that's all I know how to do right now, cuz I don't know how to post the videos on lawnsite.com.

Which of the 3 would work for me? It would be the XT5 due to ease of use, number of plugs, and depth of plugs.

Regarding the LS with caster wheels? The videos look very cool, but nobody around here has first-hand experience with it. So far, no midwest Toro dealers have plans to sell them. (maybe later)

The Plugr 855 was awesome, but it's a different class of aerator. (kinda like the LA 28). Very nice unit, nice company. Keep in mind that I have never used the 855. The new 855 also eliminated moving parts to make it more bullet proof. I only saw it operated by their rep today (nice guy) So I cannot say good or bad about it. Yet it pulled deeper & more plugs than the LS & TURFCO hydro aerators. My only concern would be operator fatigue, but don't quote me on this.

So larry you say it's essayer to lower the tines on xt5 than the LS aerator.

I demoed both at GIE last year and they were both real hard to lower the tines. That was a real disappointment but maybe Turfco made a change ?

Both machines were about the same in ease to turn But the XT5 i demoed was noisey. Maybe there were changes made here to.

Larry - hope you had a good time at the field trials. I could not make it down....being solo still too much to do to take a total day off.
Thanks for the update on the XT5.....I am going to make my call to order soon.
Here is what I want to know: how much is physical effort reduced %wise over using a std unit like a Ryan? 50% less effort? More/less?
Also, does the XT5 come with the weights when you buy one?

Also, feel free to shoot those vids to my e-mail address - you have it.